There was tension in Chitungwiza as former student leader Arthur Mutambara, now leading a rival faction, addressed a public rally.
As Mutambara addressed cheering supporters, a group of activists who support the other faction leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, appeared in the distance, cheering and singing.
Mutambara's supporters charged towards them, but police intervened to avert potential clashes.
In a statement Monday, a spokesman for Mutambara's faction accused Tsvangirai's group of "hiring thugs" to disrupt their rally.
"MDC would like to express its gratitude to the police for taking swift action to defuse the situation. We also wish to thank our supporters for staying calm in spite of the blatant and unprovoked attack by Tsvangirai's hired thugs," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said 5000 people attended the rally.
The MDC has split into two, and both factions claim to be the legitimate group. Efforts to reconcile the two, or get an "amicable divorce" appear to be floundering which could drag the fight over the party name to the Zimbabwe courts.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/senate166.13964.html
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
for gods sake brian
26.06.2008 08:26
joe
explanantion
26.06.2008 10:45
Daansaaf
Blind when I want to be
26.06.2008 12:50
More Mugabe propaganda, eh?
http://www.zimdaily.com/rights211207.html
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CONDEMNS MDC VIOLENCE
By SPIWE NCUBE in Harare
Published: 21-12-07
HARARE - A fresh human rights violations report issued Thursday blames the MDC for fuelling pre-election violence, urging the opposition party to refrain from violence as a means of solving their differences..
MDC LEADER - Morgan Tsvangirai
The November report by the Human Rights NGO Forum says the month was characterised by demonstrations by WOZA and NCA as well as intra- party violence within the MDC.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, a coalition of 17 NGOs, documents the violence that engulfed the MDC during the chaotic election of new MDC Women’s Assembly boss, Theresa Makone.
“Intra - party violence reared its ugly head within the MDC on 18 November outside the party’s Harvest House headquarters in Harare,” says the report, which is scathing of the MDC in its criticism...
Joe
Sorruy Joe, but the truth wont be suppressed by you or anyone
29.06.2008 04:20
brian